Folding or collapsible box, case, and the like.



D. PARKINS. FOLDING 0R GOLLAPSIBLE BOX, CASE, AND THE LIKE. APPLIGATIONFILED D130. 27, 1901.

945,797. Patented Jan. 11,1910;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 D. PARKINS. FOLDING 0R GOLLAPSIBLE BOX, CASE, AND THELIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 11110.27. 1907.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

2 SHEBTS-BEBBT 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL PARKINS. OF LUTON, ENGLAND.

FOLDING OR COLLAPSIBLE BOX, CASE, AND THE LIKE.

9&5397.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Daniel. lankiixs, acitizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. and residentof 39 T'TI lI r x i 1 a Town road. Luton, county ot bedtord, England.builder and contractor. have invented certain new and usefulln'iprovements in and Connected with Folding or CollapsibleSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2?. 1907.

Boxes, Cases, and the Like. of which the following is a specification,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper tains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to folding boxes, cases, crates and the like, andrefers to that class of article in which the sides and ends are arrangedto fold inward and rest on the bottom. This kind of case is usually madewith a bottom which is rigid or nonfolding and the sides are attached toit by hinges one or two ot the sides being preferably attached directlyto the bottom, and the other two or three sides being attached to stripsor ribs of varying depth tixed to the bottom in such a manner that thesides can be folded down to lie Hat on or over the bottom.

bly invention consists particularly in improvements connected withhinges which in my invention are. also used for securing the sides andends of the case together and also improvements in the hinges andfastening devices for the cover of the case.

According to my invention the hinges are formed with long strap or platelike sides which extend partly or entirely up the sides or ends of thecase. The straps are fixed close to the corners of the box, and areshaped to engage one another when the sides and ends are erected. Mypreference one of the strap sides is bent into angle form and the otherinto a groove so that the angle part will lit the groove and so hold thesides against outward pressure. Additional hinges of usual or ordinaryform may also be em ployed if desired. A lever, bolt or othercontrivance may be fitted to the case to hold the sides up and preventthem falling in from external pressure. A particularly convenientcontrivance for this purpose consists of a lever-like hook pivoted toone hinge strap and adapted to engage a slot or recess in the other.This lever may be of spring-like form and be held by being sprung intoa. recess or catch over a projection. The cover of the case may be ofany suitable kind but for many purposes I find a Hat cover having loosehinges on one side, and a spring catch,

Patented Jan. 11, 1.910.

Serial No. 408.234.

lock, or equivalent on the other is most suitable for the purpose. Thecatches of the locks may be hinged to the cover so as to fold when thecase is collapsed.

It must be nmlerstood that my invention can be applied to packing andother Ct scs, boxes, crates and the like. and that the hinges can belixed to the sides or to the sides aiid ends and bottom in any suitablemanner. and according to whether the case or the like is made of wood.metal or other material.

To increase the strength of the bent parts of the hinges the same may bemade in folded or double form. and one plate or tlap lixed to the bottomof the box can have two straps which are lixed one to a side piece andone to an end piece and which engage each other when the box is inextended position.

I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which V Figure l is a perspective view of my improved boxwith the cover removed and a portion of one side broken away; Fig. is afragmentary view in perspective of one corner of my box; Fig. 3 is asectional view of the cover; Fig. 4: is a detail view in perspectiveshowing the corner locking device; Fig. 5 is a detail view inperspective of a corner of a modified vform of box; Fig. (3 illustratestwo views of an improved hinge; and Fig. 7 is a. perspective view of aform of catch which may be employed.

Fig. 1. shows a case or box constructed according to my invention inwhich the ends are partly folded in. (I. is the bottom of the box towhich the end piece 1 is directly at tached by hinge (I while the otherend 5 and the sides (1 and c are respectively attached by their hingesto the ribs or strips (2 a and 0 of varying depths and so arranged thatthe ends and sides can fold in order on to the bottom a. The side 1: isattached by hinge J of which the extended side f is bent into a grooveto engage the curved or bent edge f of the hinge d. Similar hinges arefixed at each corner of. the box.

Fig. 2. shows a corner of the box with the extended sides of the hingesin engagement and also shows a small bolt 9 which is used to prevent theends and sides folding inward when not required to do so.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a cover suitable for use with myfolding box and in which an inner rim is provided leaving a space ibetween the two rims into which the top edges of the sides and ends ofthe box can fit. This form of loose cover removes the necessity for afastening such as the bolt shown in Fig. 2. or the lever hook shown inFig. 4. which hook fastened to one of the extended sides of the hingesengages a slot 2' in the other hinge. The handle portion of the leverhook preferably of spring-like nature and adapted to engage recesses orprojections in its opened and closed positlons.

Fig. 5. shows a construction of the hinge 1n which a bent flap orportion carries both i plates, the sald plates being interposed betheextended sides and f.

Fig. (3. shows two views of an improved hinge for attaching a cover tothe box. This hinge is of the kind known as loose or loose pin hingesbut it has its side it specially bent over at the joint so that the pinm can lie flush with the edge of the box. The other side or flap h ofthis hinge is attached to the cover or lid n and can be removed with itas shown by dotted lines for folding.

Fig. T. shows a folding or hinge-like catch or hasp consisting of plate0 and hook p which can be used with any suitable kind of lock the shapeof the hook being altered to suit various locks.

It must be understood that the various parts of the fittings hereindescribed may be altered to suit requirements providing the essentialfeature of my invention are not departed from and I do not claim the useof metal corners which engage each other except in combination with andforming part of the hinges for the sides and ends of folding boxes,cases and the like.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a foldingbox, a bottom. hinges thereon, having extensions attached to the sidesand ends of the box to form corner tween the surfaces of the sides andends and having interlocking flanges, adapted to engage when the endsand sides are swung into position to form a closure.

2. In a folding box. a bottom. a plate at each corner thereof, membershinged to the plates in different planes, sides and ends for the boxsecured to the members. and flanges in the members adapted to interlock.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

DANIEL PARKINS.

itnesses IVALTER I. SKERTEN, GEO. J. B. FRANKIJX.

